The Blessings of Democracy

As I write, Canadians are once again in election mode. I could devote this space to evaluating the record of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government and the promises of the other party leaders. Instead I want to call attention to a significant anniversary that has been all but ignored by our political leaders and the media alike. Four hundred years ago, on 30 July 1619, Virginia’s colonial legislature, the General Assembly, first met. This marked the beginning of parliamentary government in the New World and would have a huge influence on the subsequent development of both the United States and Canada.

Twelve years earlier the first English settlers had arrived at Jamestown, sponsored by the Virginia Company of London under a colonial charter granted by King James I. At the outset the government of the colony was in the hands of the company and the private shareholders, whose principal interest was in extracting the natural resources for profit. Fairly soon, however, the colonists desired self-government, and this led to the appointment of the first royal governor, Sir George Yeardley, and the establishment of a single-chamber legislative body to be elected by the male landowners. The 22 elected members supplemented the already existing Council of State, an appointive body similar to our cabinet or Senate.

Self-government
This was not yet democracy as we know it today. The right to vote was by no means universal. Elections took place at the discretion of the governor and not on a regular basis. There was no secret ballot, and the few electors had to voice audibly their support for a candidate, who was not above conferring material favours to secure their votes. Considered a separate nation, the native Powhatan people were not represented. Moreover, like England, Virginia had an established church in the Church of England transplanted from the old country, an arrangement that lasted until 1786, which saw the introduction of full religious freedom.

Nevertheless, compared to their Spanish and French counterparts, which developed under the stifling rule of absolute monarchs and their viceroys, the English colonies quickly organized themselves into self-governing polities. In so doing, they nurtured the habits that would enable them to embrace constitutional governance and independence over the next three centuries. While the Stuart monarchs tried to grab absolute power, not only did England’s Parliament stand in their way, but so did the colonial assemblies.

Of course 1619 was a year of mixed blessings, seeing the introduction of indentured servitude and the importation of the first African slaves. The New York Times is making much of the latter in its 1619 Project, intended to raise awareness of the continuing legacy of slavery in the United States. Nevertheless, among the forces that led to its abolition was legislative action, which could not have come about without the establishment of that first parliamentary body in Virginia.

Count our blessings
Canada is heir to this heritage of parliamentary government. By God’s grace we did not have to fight a war for independence or a battle to end slavery. Our evolution towards nationhood was gradual and mostly peaceful. By 1931 we were authorized to set our own foreign and defence policies and to patriate our constitution, the latter of which, of course, did not occur for another half century.

Canadians are not a flashy people. While Americans famously embrace life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we are content to accept peace, order and good government. We go to the polls every four years – or sooner, if there’s a minority government – and we dutifully elect our representatives to engage in the mostly mundane work of making the laws and policies under which we live. We may complain about the choices we are faced with, but it is worth taking time out to count our blessings, including our democratic system of government. It’s not perfect, but we could do a lot worse.